Nemom: Palakkad native Shameera Beevi (36), who died of excessive bleeding after opting for a home birth, was given acupuncture treatment, said police. The newborn also died during delivery. As per reports, Shihab of Venjarammoodu, who runs a clinic in Beema Palli, was treating Shameera. Police have registered a case of unnatural death and are continuing with the investigation.
According to police, Shameera's husband Nayas forced her to give birth at home and denied her a hospital delivery. It is also alleged that Nayas misbehaved with the health workers who asked him to take Shameera to a hospital. The couple have three children, all of whom were delivered by C-section. When Shameera became pregnant a fourth time, Nayas decided that they would opt for acupuncture treatment and not go to the hospital.
Meanwhile, police revealed that Shameera is Nayas' second wife. His daughter from his first marriage is studying acupuncture. As per reports, Nayas' daughter was also present at the time of delivery. Police have launched an investigation into those who were present at the time of delivery, including the daughter.
The incident happened at Thirumangalam Lane near Pazhaya Karakkamandapam in Nemom around Tuesday evening. The couple had been staying in a rented house for months and did not maintain much contact with their neighbours or other residents. When Nayas refused to admit Shameera to a hospital despite her being fully pregnant, residents in the area informed the health workers. Though they intervened, Nayas did not allow Shameera to be taken to a hospital, following which excessive bleeding occurred and she fell unconscious.
People in the area rushed Shameera to a private hospital in Karamana. However, the doctors said both mother and child had died hours ago. Later, police reached their rented house, sealed the property, took Nayas into custody and booked him for manslaughter.
'Nayas said they'd try for normal delivery watching YouTube videos'
Levelling grave allegations against Nayas, ward councillor Deepika said he did not pay heed to several of their warnings regarding Shameera's health condition. Talking to Manorama News, Deepika said Nayas told her that they would try for a normal delivery with the help of YouTube videos.
"It's been a year since they moved into my ward. It was only in January that I found out a pregnant woman was residing in the area. Though we reached out to them, they did not allow us to enter the house. Nayas also refused to disclose any details of Shameera. When we asked him whether she went to the hospital for examination, he said yes and nothing else," said Deepika.
Shameera was eight months pregnant at the time. Deepika, however, grew suspicious of Nayas and insisted that she be allowed to talk to Shameera, which is when she found out that this was going to be her fourth delivery and that it had only been a year since she gave birth to her third child by C-section. "A normal delivery in this situation was out of the question. Even on the phone, Shameera was afraid to speak. She was under complete control of her husband," said Deepika.
Deepika once again visited them to get Shameera to a hospital somehow. But Nayas refused to open the door. "When I stood there in front of their house for 30 minutes and said I wouldn't leave without meeting Shameera, he came and opened the door. He said under no circumstance would he take his wife to the hospital and went on criticising the entire health system of the state. When he saw I was trying to record what he was saying, he asked me to leave the house," said Deepika. She said she even tried appealing to them using her own experience. "I told him that I have had two C-sections and going to the hospital was imperative for Shameera. But Nayas refused to budge," she added.
The next day, Deepika went to their house again. This time, with a doctor from the District Medical Office. However, Nayas didn't pick up their calls or open the door. "He shifted his three kids to his first wife's house in Manacadu, leaving Shameera alone," she added.